Prosinečki Steps Down As Azerbaijan National Football Team's Manager

Croatian football (soccer) manager Robert Prosinečki stepped down as the head coach of Azerbaijan’s national football team on Thursday, after nearly three years of leading the western Caspian country’s team to new heights.

Azerbaijan Football Federations Association (AFFA), the leading football organization in Azerbaijan, and Prosinečki decided not to extend their existing contract, according to an announcement made at the AFFA headquarters in Baku on October 26.

“We thought that the Azerbaijani team needed a ‘new breath’,” AFFA Secretary General Elkhan Mammadov told media on Friday, according to Qol.az. “Robert also felt that he should continue his career in another country.”

“He made an invaluable contribution to the development of football [in Azerbaijan]. We are very glad that he worked as a real professional and fulfilled his contract until the end,” Mammadov said.

The national football team of Azerbaijan held 22 games in total under Prosinečki, from 2014 to 2017, with five wins, twelve defeats, and four draws. Under his guidance, the team finished its qualifying round for the World Cup 2018 with ten points, seen as an accomplishment by both AFFA and Azerbaijani sports fans.

Prosinečki, a 48-year-old former Croatian footballer, came on board with Azerbaijan’s team in December 2014, filling the boots of his German counterpart Berti Vogts. Prior to his time with Azerbaijan, Prosinečki had managed the Turkish team Kayserispor for two years, and did a short stint with Red Star Belgrade. Prosinečki played 49 times for Croatia’s national team, scoring 10 goals, and later became its assistant coach, after hanging up his boots.

AFFA General Secretary Elkhan Mammadov said the association is planning to appoint a new manager very soon.

“We will announce the name of the new manager by the end of this year. The new head coach should plan for training camps in February or March next year,” Mammadov told reporters on Thursday.

Rumors circulating via social media say that AFFA tried to contact the renowned Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti to fill the vacancy. AFFA has neither denied nor confirmed the information. Ukrainian media claims that the post could be filled by Roman Hryhorchuk, the current manager of the Azerbaijani team Gabala.